Canary

I think it needs to be personal to fit your child, the communication between you and the teacher is vital so that your child is training at the right pace for them and their body.

Now I can look back I feel so blessed that mine went to such a supportive church hall ballet school that gave her an incredible foundation and sent her on her career path.

If you live near KS then ask to visit, let your DD catch the atmosphere, see the other children at work and ask Miss Simmons for advice. 

Battery run fairy lights 

If you know she is getting a wardrobe then maybe a hanging shelf that velcros on to the hanging rail, then it's one shelf for leotards, one for tights, one for dance underwear, one for warmups and then in the morning it's just grab and go 

needlebox - with all she needs in a clip box 

white tac

Ask the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) for a list of qualified teachers in your area and they will be able to explain the meaning of the qualifications as a start. 

If she was to take her ballet seriously maybe later on speak with Heidi Rhodes in Windsor area, she runs a very happy ballet school producing confident, happy well trained dancers 

Use an iPad to record a video of the position then go frame by frame, your teacher or one of the older students will chose the best frame with your daughter. 

If she is only 4 then I would ask other mums at her primary school to see where their children go and advise about the local schools. 

Maybe later on If she takes ballet seriously and you can drive in to Wanstead,  then Redbridge Classical Dance Studio is excellent. They teach teddy bears ballet through to Advanced 2 in RAD and have a real family feel. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ilsa on behalf of ALL the children (and their parents) who have benefitted from her devotion and determination. Ilsa has provided support for their ballet lessons and careers over the last 35 years and I wish her a speedy recovery and much love xx

Thank you Harwel 

If they are returning to the Peacock, the commitment is every Sunday between New Year and the first appearance. Even if your child is not required you cannot ask for a Sunday off. But whenever you won't be required you don't have to go in. 

There's a full week of rehearsals or two over Easter depending on school holidays, your child will apply for a licence to perform from you residential LA and this includes some rehearsals during school days for certain children. 

Head teachers written permission is often required by you LA licensing officer. So Tring and YDA normally say yes or no to their pupils depending on their other commitments / exams.

Use to clash with SATs and 11+ and taking GCSE's early for a few. 

A lot will depend on the choreographer and your child's role, full company call though, over Easter 

Big commitment but worth it, the experience has literally set up 100's in to the industry and given hundreds more the required skills for other work 

I cannot recommend the audition experience enough. 

Whatever you decide check the teaching qualifications of the teachers that will be teaching your child. You pay serious money so you need reassurance your child is in good hands. 

My tap teacher always said (many, many years ago!), "if you can't say it how can you tell your body to do it".

I always play the music saying / singing the steps as you go and then the music will tell you what to do even when nerves kick in,

Grade 2 tap routine about 1973 - to the tune from Oliver, you've got to pick a pocket or two, it went like this :-

Tap step, heel, tap step, heel, tap step, ball change, brush, hop step,

repeat,

repeat,

tap spring, tap spring, tap spring, tap spring, tap spring, tap spring (travel) tap spring, tap spring

I could actually sing you the whole routine still. 

Depending on your age

If you are under 18 it might be worth considering applying to Transport for London for a 'zip card' so you get reduced rates on tubes and buses as you are in further education. (despite working towards a degree you are still in further education not higher at this stage) But not sure if they will issue it until you provide your London postcode. 

Get a student railcard and Join Virgin trains and the like, as booking well in advance saves a lot of money. 

Accomodation is crazy money, so get researching for alternatives from £750-£950 pcm, it's cheapest to try and share a house but you will need landlady/ landlords willing to rent to under 18 or find an older student to share with.

Good luck and enjoy

My mistake I tried to copy it over and got your name wrong. 

End of year watching class is rather gorgeous have tissues ready 

Too much I hope we answered this question when you asked just before the assessments 

of course it may have changed but if you 

have a read of the previous thread 

years ago Peter made sure you are told in the end of year report and then on the first week of the September term there may be a bit of a reshuffle 

it's all decided on your child's body and ability / facility 

ljb is more demanding than other associates 

if a child is assessed out its all done discreetly, carefully so no child actually knows they are assessed out, the parent manages the move. 

Hope this helps 

It's been a joy to watch the KS classes and rehearsals and catch the studio atmosphere.

very thought provoking Balletbean thank you. I think some get caught up in auditions rather than the harsh reality that this is the college / school that should be passionately trying to get ALL their students work and prepare them ALL mentally to work in the industry for many, many years.

Lisa was that last year or the year before?

Are you sure a local school 6th form doesn't teach BTEC in dance in addition to doing 3 A levels ? If her going away is one of the things worrying you

Tutugirl I can only assist re senior section and it looks like your right they didn't take the BG winners.

Two selected from the November BG Awards day. Normally it would be the two winners but I've been told they are taken someone else instead.

Then the rest of the Seniors were selected in February.

The Cecchetti international competition is held every 3 years this year it is in Florence, Italy. There are a certain number of entrants selected by each country and this number is at the discretion of the individual company.

The competition is highly competitive with most award winners at the competition either gaining employment, or depending on age, a scholarship place to an internationally recognised school.

This year there are two competitions one for over 17s up to 19 years old and one for under 17s.

The UK entry consists of two dancers pre selected from the Barbara Geoghan competition last November plus 5 more who were selected from a qualification audition in February.

There will be 2 dancers from KS Dance, 2 from Elmhurst and 3 from Tring Park.

Once you and Beth have settled on a shoe, then she will order in when you email her and keeps your details running at the shop. If you're lucky there's often another ballerina who wears the same shoe so you both keep ordering ahead of time so they are in stock when you need them. If you ring ahead to make sure she is working the day you intend to visit

Remember to check the CDET website

It is important that the college is accredited by CDET and that they are not only 'recognised' by CDET

Ballet Confused did you find a suitable school or teacher ?

It may have changed because of new teachers but it use to be all about bodies if your child's body is ready for the move then she will move up in September. But often children are with the school for 7 / 8 years and therefore there will be levels that they stay 2 years in. tell her not to worry and enjoy her assessment there's nothing more powerful at LJSB than a dancer that has I love to dance shining out of her eyes ( and his ). It's not a race.

Don't buy the leotard yet, as dancers have two lessons to sort out their uniform in September and if you do get it before you break up for the summer don't let her wear it until you know.

You receive a report and the students are normally marked out of 10 on different parts of the assessment including appearance so clean shoes waiste elastic, to fit and not a hair out of place so that's one 10/10 guaranteed.

Assessments at LJSB lay the foundation for future auditions, you child is in safe hands, huge Congratulations to you and you child for getting in to such a healthy happy associate class. It's hard work at LJSB but it's worth it

Hope this helps

My DD did RAD summer school 6 years ago and loved it, mainly because Rachael Hunt was her teacher and My DD has always loved her challengeing classes. The accommodation and evening entertainment were great. Doesn't time fly